Monday, October 1, 2007

2008 Nissan Pathfinder Review

Essentially the same as last year's model, the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder has had some minor cosmetic changes. The doors, for example, have new rub strips, and the front bumper has been subtly altered. It still comes standard with 16-inch aluminum wheels, with optional upgrades to 17- or 18-inch wheels available.

It is under the hood where this year's Pathfinder really distinguishes itself. Oh, the base model still sports a fairly standard 4.0 liter, 266 horsepower V-6, but the real news is the uplevel 5.6 liter V-8, which produces 310 horsepower and more than 380 pounds/feet of torque. Both engines come with a five-speed automatic transmission, and both rear- and four-wheel-drive is available as well.

Inside the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder, there is seating for seven, with the back two rows featuring fold-flat capabilities. Cloth seats are the default, with leather upholstery available as an optional upgrade, as are automatic dual-zone air conditioning, and a DVD entertainment system for the rear seats. There's also an optional navigational system which features a 9.3 GB hard drive which can be used to store music files. Otherwise, the standard audio configuration is a pretty basic AM/FM Radio/CD player combination.

Safety features on the Pathfinder include active head restraints and side-impact airbags for the driver and front passenger, but side curtain airbags are optional. Anti-lock disc brakes and an electronic stability control system are standard.

The 2008 Nissan Pathfinder has starting MSRPs ranging from $25,700 for the most basic S model to $36,500 for the tricked-out LE with the V-8 engine. Estimated fuel economy is 15/16 mpg in the city and 21/23 for highway driving.